Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .223 Ackley Improved with .224 | 60gr | Fox Classic Hunter bullet and 48 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are Hodgdon H335, Accurate 2520 and Hodgdon H322.
Important Notice: DO NOT go below Minimum Charge or above Maximum Charge. Since we have no control over the equipment and components used, any responsibility and liability for the results achieved is rejected.
Only powders/loads that match the current filter criteria are displayed: max pressure of a load ≤ 90% of max. standardized pressure, fill rate ≥ 80% and propellant combustion ≥ 95%. Use the sliders above the tables to adjust these thresholds.
Charge: Powder weight in grains. Start with the minimum load and work up carefully.
FR (Fill Rate): Case fill as a percentage. Values above 100% mean compressed loads.
MaxP / %: Maximum chamber pressure in bar and as a percentage of the standardized maximum for this caliber.
V(0): Muzzle velocity in feet per second (fps) at the standardized barrel length.
z (Powder Burn): Estimated propellant combustion percentage at bullet exit.
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Max Load - Barrel Length: 24"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate 1680 | <<locked>> | 84% | 49,617 psi | 90% | 2953 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2015 | <<locked>> | 96% | 47,253 psi | 86% | 2992 fps | 99.6% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 94% | 48,936 psi | 89% | 3035 fps | 98% |
| Accurate 2495ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 41,568 psi | 75% | 2956 fps | 99.3% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 98% | 49,313 psi | 89% | 3081 fps | 97.8% |
| Accurate 4064ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 38,624 psi | 70% | 2910 fps | 96.6% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 88% | 47,587 psi | 86% | 2917 fps | 98.8% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 88% | 48,051 psi | 87% | 2923 fps | 97.3% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 86% | 47,268 psi | 86% | 2976 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 90% | 48,718 psi | 88% | 3068 fps | 99% |
| Alliant AR-Compᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 49,429 psi | 90% | 3117 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 92% | 47,674 psi | 87% | 3025 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | <<locked>> | 86% | 48,849 psi | 89% | 2982 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 90% | 49,342 psi | 90% | 2953 fps | 99.3% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 94% | 46,934 psi | 85% | 2953 fps | 95.9% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 98% | 47,108 psi | 85% | 3061 fps | 96.1% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 92% | 46,876 psi | 85% | 3035 fps | 98.7% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 92% | 47,877 psi | 87% | 3048 fps | 98.1% |
| Hodgdon H4198 | <<locked>> | 86% | 49,342 psi | 90% | 2969 fps | 98.7% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 32,213 psi | 58% | 1903 fps | 100% |
| IMR 3031ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 47,094 psi | 85% | 3104 fps | 99.4% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 92% | 49,110 psi | 89% | 3005 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4227 | <<locked>> | 82% | 49,168 psi | 89% | 2940 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D073.4 | <<locked>> | 88% | 49,632 psi | 90% | 3058 fps | 97.5% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 94% | 49,385 psi | 90% | 3038 fps | 96.9% |
| Lovex D073.6ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 47,137 psi | 86% | 3054 fps | 97.3% |
| Lovex S053 | <<locked>> | 82% | 47,921 psi | 87% | 2887 fps | 100% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 88% | 47,747 psi | 87% | 3005 fps | 100% |
| Norma 202ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 48,399 psi | 88% | 3054 fps | 98.2% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 32,271 psi | 59% | 1952 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 36 | <<locked>> | 82% | 49,023 psi | 89% | 2969 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 94% | 49,777 psi | 90% | 3054 fps | 97.4% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 98% | 49,226 psi | 89% | 3038 fps | 98% |
| Shooters World AR Plus | <<locked>> | 88% | 49,632 psi | 90% | 3058 fps | 97.5% |
| Shooters World Match Rifleᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 47,137 psi | 86% | 3054 fps | 97.3% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 86% | 49,269 psi | 89% | 2746 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | <<locked>> | 90% | 49,197 psi | 89% | 3064 fps | 98.2% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 92% | 48,965 psi | 89% | 3038 fps | 99.4% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 98% | 48,631 psi | 88% | 2963 fps | 98% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 41,568 psi | 75% | 2844 fps | 97.6% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 98% | 47,021 psi | 85% | 2956 fps | 98.6% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 86% | 47,369 psi | 86% | 2927 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 94% | 48,240 psi | 88% | 2966 fps | 99.9% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 98% | 47,761 psi | 87% | 2963 fps | 99.6% |
| Vihtavuori N135ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 42,772 psi | 78% | 2966 fps | 99.4% |
| Vihtavuori N140ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 45,614 psi | 83% | 2976 fps | 98% |
| Vihtavuori N540ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 44,019 psi | 80% | 2959 fps | 97.2% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 98% | 48,022 psi | 87% | 3077 fps | 96.6% |
Recommended = one of the top powders for this cartridge and bullet combination.
Start Load - Barrel Length: 24"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate 1680 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,801 psi | 79% | 2851 fps | 99.7% |
| Accurate 2015 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,326 psi | 51% | 2572 fps | 95.1% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 86% | 37,318 psi | 68% | 2808 fps | 95.1% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 88% | 27,485 psi | 50% | 2621 fps | 95.3% |
| Accurate 2520 | 24.7 gr | 92% | 39,900 psi | 72% | 2904 fps | 95.5% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 98% | 36,158 psi | 66% | 2854 fps | 95.8% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,028 psi | 67% | 2703 fps | 96.6% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 82% | 39,798 psi | 72% | 2762 fps | 95.2% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,320 psi | 71% | 2835 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,330 psi | 62% | 2766 fps | 95.4% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 80% | 26,020 psi | 47% | 2575 fps | 96.7% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,619 psi | 59% | 2710 fps | 97.9% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,408 psi | 73% | 2828 fps | 99.6% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,389 psi | 64% | 2680 fps | 96.5% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 92% | 44,150 psi | 80% | 2900 fps | 95.2% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 96% | 44,135 psi | 80% | 3005 fps | 95.3% |
| Hodgdon H322 | 20.9 gr | 82% | 33,924 psi | 62% | 2756 fps | 95.3% |
| Hodgdon H335 | 22.9 gr | 84% | 36,767 psi | 67% | 2822 fps | 95.1% |
| Hodgdon H4198 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,785 psi | 74% | 2805 fps | 97% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 23,801 psi | 43% | 1709 fps | 100% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 88% | 32,242 psi | 59% | 2769 fps | 95.6% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,606 psi | 63% | 2717 fps | 99% |
| IMR 4227 | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,659 psi | 85% | 2897 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D073.4 | <<locked>> | 82% | 40,161 psi | 73% | 2877 fps | 95.2% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 90% | 42,815 psi | 78% | 2920 fps | 95.3% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 96% | 40,640 psi | 74% | 2933 fps | 95.7% |
| Lovex S053 | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,513 psi | 83% | 2848 fps | 100% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,941 psi | 67% | 2795 fps | 99.3% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 92% | 37,391 psi | 68% | 2838 fps | 95.5% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 23,525 psi | 43% | 1745 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 36 | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,050 psi | 84% | 2920 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 88% | 41,234 psi | 75% | 2894 fps | 95.3% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 90% | 38,899 psi | 71% | 2835 fps | 95.6% |
| Shooters World AR Plus | <<locked>> | 82% | 40,161 psi | 73% | 2877 fps | 95.2% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 96% | 40,640 psi | 74% | 2933 fps | 95.7% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,684 psi | 76% | 2631 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | <<locked>> | 82% | 37,391 psi | 68% | 2828 fps | 95.2% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,388 psi | 61% | 2713 fps | 96.1% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 90% | 37,971 psi | 69% | 2756 fps | 95.4% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 94% | 34,287 psi | 62% | 2684 fps | 95.5% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 88% | 34,447 psi | 63% | 2697 fps | 95.4% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,421 psi | 72% | 2792 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,662 psi | 57% | 2625 fps | 97.3% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 82% | 29,341 psi | 53% | 2569 fps | 95.3% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 88% | 29,167 psi | 53% | 2648 fps | 95.7% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 92% | 35,375 psi | 64% | 2762 fps | 95.1% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 96% | 38,827 psi | 70% | 2851 fps | 95.7% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 94% | 42,366 psi | 77% | 2966 fps | 95% |
Recommended = one of the top powders for this cartridge and bullet combination.
ᴾ possible press load - work up slowly to this load while watching for signs of excessive pressure.
This overview compares 48 powders for .223 Ackley Improved loaded with the .224 | 60gr | Fox Classic Hunter. Alliant AR-Comp delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 3,117 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,903 fps to 3,117 fps. Accurate 2495 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 48 of the 48 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (380 MPa), the top charges use 58–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. The 60.0 gr projectile in 0.224" calls for a 1:8.5 twist; slower twists will usually not stabilise this weight. Accurate 2495, Accurate 4064, Alliant AR-Comp reach 100 % fill or more at maximum charge, so these are compressed loads: they need a long drop tube to seat cleanly and react sensitively to the case capacity of your own brass lot. Hodgdon H335, Accurate 2520, Hodgdon H322 rank at the top here: for .223 Ackley Improved with the .224 | 60gr | Fox Classic Hunter they combine a high case fill with complete burn and sit in the upper velocity band. Always begin at the start load and work up in small increments while checking case and primer for pressure signs.